QuestionsQuestions (DEPED ORDER NO. 59, S. 2003)
DepEd Order No. 59, s. 2003 (July 23, 2003) issues revised guidelines on when classes are to be suspended during typhoons and other calamities, to guide public and private elementary and secondary schools, parents, and school personnel.
The Order provides automatic suspension based on PAGASA typhoon signals without requiring any separate announcement from DepEd.
When Signal No. 1 is raised by PAGASA, classes at the pre-school and elementary levels are automatically suspended in all public and private schools.
When Signal No. 2 is raised by PAGASA, classes at the pre-school, elementary, and secondary levels are automatically suspended in all public and private schools.
Yes. The Order states that automatic suspension also applies to public school teachers; however, teachers are required to hold make-up classes in lieu of the suspended classes.
For private schools, suspension of work by school personnel is at the discretion of the school heads/directors/principals.
In the absence of typhoon signal warnings from PAGASA, localized suspension/cancellation may be implemented in specific divisions based on assessment.
If the suspension covers the entire division, the Superintendent decides. If it involves specific schools only, the school principal/head decides.
Local chief executives chair the local DCC and can decide on class suspension. They should coordinate and inform the Superintendent and Regional Director to facilitate DepEd dissemination of the information to the public.
The Undersecretary for Regional Operations (or Regional Director in the case of NCR) or, in other regions, the Regional Director, should announce suspension as much as possible.
Announcements should be made not later than 4:30 a.m., primarily through broadcast media, and they take effect for the whole day.
If there are morning classes and suspension is only for afternoon sessions, announcements should be made as much as possible not later than 11:00 a.m.
They must inform the community through the media and also inform the LGU executives, the Superintendent (for school-specific suspensions), and the Regional Director.
It reminds parents and teachers that the required number of school days remains important; make-up classes should be held on Saturdays or on weekdays beyond the original school calendar.
They are requested to render service even when classes are suspended, coordinate with local government officials, and follow rules/orders/guidelines for evacuation centers.
Yes. The Order states that make-up classes shall be held on Saturdays or on weekdays beyond the original set school calendar in both public and private schools.
It rescinds all previous orders and regulations relevant to suspension of classes due to typhoons, floods, and other calamities.
It enjoins widest dissemination of the Order.